Arrive at stately Albert Hall at 6pm.
Enjoy a yummy supper and wine, while the wonderful
Warwick Dunham plays cocktail piano music.
Then take your seat for the grand opera highlights concert.
Concert starts 6.45pmTempting sweets will be served at interval.

“Opera by Candlelight” is a less than a month away, and is almost sold out!

I’m currently rehearsing in Sydney with the Australian singers and
musicians, while the International singers are preparing in Vienna.
The musical offerings this year are the most impassioned highlights of grand opera. You’ll love the vocal intensity and virtuosity as these wonderful singers give you an enlarged expression of grand passions: joy, rage, anguish, love and ecstasy.

Book now to be thrilled by a feast of great voices singing your opera favourites. Bring your friends. You’ll love this great show, and you’ll enjoy sharing the unique banquet format with your friends.

You’ll be thrilled by international singers

You’ll enjoy your favourite operatic tunes

You’ll love the unique banquet format

Your friends will share a great occasion

There are 2 tables of 8 remaining for Saturday February 11.

There are 3 tables of 6 remaining for Sunday February 12.

Book by email (carlrafferty@bigpond.com).. Once you’ve booked your table I’ll send you a special link so you and your friends can pay individually by card. Please book your table by return email.

“Opera by Candlelight” is like no other event. Here’s all of the details you need to know so you can experience this unique entertainment:

Please read on…

“Thanks Carl, for giving us the best of all possible worlds! A great night out with our friends, a superb entertainment, and a wonderful night of food and wine. It’s the trifecta!”

Michael Davidson, Forrest ACT

“Opera by Candlelight” is staged in Canberra’s elegant Albert Hall. Music lovers travel from all parts of Australia to enjoy this unique entertainment…

“There’s no other event like this in Australia. It was well worth our trip. We’ll come for the next show, and we’ll bring friends next time!”

Don Atkinson, Glenelg SA

Many of our Canberra supporters invite their interstate friends to visit Canberra to enjoy these special events…

“We always invite our Sydney friends to join us for Opera by Candlelight. It’s a unique event in Canberra, and a great reason for our friends to visit”

Lucy Beauchamp, Garran, ACT

The music: Each year I select a different style of programme. In 2016 we featured the songs of Rogers and Hammerstein, so for 2017 we’re returning to the great Italian and French operas.

“Hello Carl, Last Sunday was our first time at “Opera by Candlelight”. What a marvellous way to showcase exceptional talent! It was a truly memorable night and is a wonderful event to be held at our fabulous Albert Hall. Congratulations to you and to all involved. Fantastic. Let’s see more of it.Regards, Di & Jerry”

“Hi Carl, I just wanted to let you know how much our table enjoyed the performance on Sunday – the general comments/feedback was WONDERFUL!! They have all told me that they wish to be included in future events which is just great.

Banquet nights (Saturday February 11 and Sunday February 12) are the opportunity for you to enjoy your own opera dinner party.

Hold a table so you don’t miss out (you can pay later).

Just send me an email and I’ll hold a table.

Gather a group of 8 or more friends and pack a banquet of your favourite food. Tables of 6 are available on Sunday.

You’ll arrive at stately Albert Hall where your table is waiting.

You’ll walk into the beautifully decorated hall to your own table, set with a white linen table cloth, a glittering silver candelabra, and a generous selection of wines.

Enjoy your dinner with your friends, be entertained by the terrific performers and fabulous music selections, and go home with a spring in your step and a song in your heart!

All seats are $80 and wine is included.

WE PROVIDE: the table and chairs; white linen table cloth: a silver candelabra with candles; and a generous selection of bottled wine.

YOU BRING everything else. You can bring a lavish 3 course dinner…or a simple cheese platter…or anything as fancy or as simple as you like.

Doors open at 5.30.

Set your table up (we give prizes for the best decorated tables), enjoy dinner with your friends from 6 to 7, and then be entertained by the show at 7pm.

Your choice of formal, flamboyant or operatic dress adds further lustre to this great night out!

We sell tea and coffee and ice creams at interval

Banquet tables are a minimum booking of 8 music lovers. Seats are $80. There are a few tables of 6 available for the Sunday night.

Tables are allocated in order of initial booking. Book your table now so you and your friends don’t miss out. Once you’ve booked your table I’ll send you a special link so you and your friends can pay individually by card. Remember that there are fewer tables this year. I’ve reduced the number tables to make it more comfortable.

Read about these great artists:

Thomas now returns to Australia to give you the two most powerful tenor highlights of opera: “Vesti la giubba” (“on with the Motley”) from Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci”, and the showstopper Nessun Dorma from “Turandot”

Polish soprano Marta Nowicka is a great singer with a wicked humour! She’ll give you the hilarious (and incredibly difficult) Doll’s Song from Tales of Hoffman, and two astonishing baroque arias from Vivaldi and Rameau.

Camilo Delgardo Diaz – Columbian tenor.

Kate gave concerts with Camilo in in Hungary this September, and she was excited by his beautiful sound and lovely presence…so she’s bringing Camilo with her to Australia in February for “Opera by Candlelight”. You’ll shed a furtive tear when Camilo gives you Italian and Spanish ballads.

My wonderful soprano daughter Kate Rafferty will make a quick trip in February, with a suitcase full of spectacular arias. Expect fireworks from Verdi and Donizetti…and lots of sensational high notes!

I’m always searching for new talent, and I’ve made a great discovery – hugely talented young Australian tenor Alexander Clubb. Alexander is a fabulous singer and actor in the Broadway tradition, but I see in him a marvellous classical tenor. He’ll make his debut in operatic style at Albert Hall in February!